Wall mounted lighting fixture



Feb. 25, 1964 N. R. SCHWARTZ WALL MOUNTED LIGHTING FIXTURE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27. 1960 N. R. SCHWARTZ WALL MOUNTED LIGHTINGFIXTURE Feb. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1960 u .e MM MM WJ.m M M M Feb. 25, 1964 N. R. scHwARTz WALL MOUNTED LIGHTING FIXTURE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 27, 1960 United States Patent O 3,122,331 WALLMOUlNTTED LIGHTING FIXTURE Nathan R. Schwartz, Yonkers, NKY., assigner,by mesne assignments, to Swivelier Company Inc., Nanuet, NSY.,

a corporation of New York Filed May 27, i960, Ser. No. 32,438 Claims.(Cl. 240.--730 The present invention relates to electrical lightingfixtures and represents improvements over the fixtures described in myU.S. Patents 2,925,294 and 2,925,489. More specifically, this inventionrelates to a simplified overall lighting fixture construction.

In my aforesaid Patent 2,925,294 there is disclosed a counterbaiancingswivel joint which is spring biased in such a manner as to aid in themovement of a load bearing arm in one direction so that a load, in thiscase, a light source, may be mounted to a relative long moment arm. Theelements of the swivel joint are mounted within a shell constructed ofsheet material drawn to shape.

With this construction it has been found that the loads which the swiveljoint is capable of supporting are often limited. That is, since theshell is shaped by a drawing process the walls are usually thin tofacilitate shaping. lf the shell wall is increased in thickness theshaping process is made materially more difticult.

This invention overcomes the above noted deficiency of the prior art byproviding a swivel joint having a cast relatively thick walled shell.The thickness of the wall does not present any problems in the castingprocess and it has been found that the shell is less costly to produceas a cast member then as a drawn member. The thick walled shell is notonly strong but may be of larger size than the thin walled shell so asto accommodate therein large springs capable of counter-balancingheavier loads than can be handled by a swivel joint having a thin walledshell.

In my aforesaid Patent 2,925,489 the lighting fixture disclosed thereincomprises a iirst light source mounted directly to a canopy which isremovably mounted to a wall plate and a second light source mounted toone end of a long arm whose other end is supported by a swivel joint.The swivel joint in turn is mounted directly to the wall plate.

In contrast, the lighting fixture of the present invention comprises acanopy removably mounted to a wall plate and directly mounted to thecanopy is a hollow bracket. This bracket has mounted directly thereto onthe top thereof a rst light source and on the bottom thereof a swiveljoint means having the cast shell as herebetore described. The swiveljoint supports a long arm at one end thereof with the other end of thearm having a second light source mounted thereto. This construction ismaterially simplied over the prior art as exemplied by my aforesaidPatent 2,925,489 through the elimination of a large number of elements.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a lightingfixture which is economical to produce yet is rugged so as to be capableof withstanding abuse withoutbre kdown.

Another object is to provide a lighting fixture wherein a single bracketsupports two light sources one of which is mounted to a long moment arm.

These as well as other objects of the instant invention shall becomereadily apparent after reading the following description of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation, partially sectioned, of a lighting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section taken through line 2 2 of FIGURE l, with thewall plate removed, looking in the direction of arrows 2-2.

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FIGURE 3 is an exploded View of the lighting fixture of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a plan View of the hollow bracket to which the light sourcesare mounted.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section taken through line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end View of the bracket of FIG- URE 4 looking in thedirection of arrows 6 6.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the counter-balanced swivel joint withthe shell broken away to reveal internal elements.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the counter-balanced swivel joint ofFIGURE 7 looking in the direction of arrows S-S with the shell brokenaway t0 reveal the internal elements.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the spring washer which is interposed betweenthe joint means of FIGURE 7 and the bracket of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE l0 is a fragmentary plan view of the bracket of FIGURE 4 with theswivel joint of FIGURE 7 mounted thereto.

Now referring to the figures, the lighting fixture of this inventiongenerally comprises wall plate il having a bowl shaped canopy I2 mountedthereto by screws 13 which pass through clearance holes 14 in canopy 12and are received by threaded apertures in posts I5 extending forwardlyfrom plate 11 and formed integrally therewith.

Wall plate 11 also includes a forwardly extending mounting ring 16against which canopy l2 bears and a plurality of arcuate and straightslots closed by knockout formations for the passage of bolts or othermeans to mount wall plate 11 in the desired location. Wall plate 11 isalso provided with apertures 17 through which electrical conductors maypass. A pull chain operated switch 1S as well as a plug receptacle I9are mounted to the side wall of canopy 12 in a manner well known to theart and are electrically connected to each other as well as to lightsources, which will be hereinafter described, also in a manner wellknown to the art.

Canopy 12 further includes a central wire receiving aperture 21 which isaligned with wire receiving aperture 22 of bracket Ztl (FIGURE 4). Bolts23 (FIGURE 2) pass through clearance holes in stifr'ening member 24 andclearance holes 25 in canopy 12 to be received by threaded apertures 216in bracket 2li to ixedly secure bracket 2u to canopy 12. Member 24 alsoincludes wire receiving aperture 27 which is aligned with the wirereceiving apertures 21, 22 of canopy 12 and bracket 20, respectively.

Bracket 2t) is a generally hollow member having a horizontal partition29. Three posts Sti-32 extend up-v wardly from partition 29. Bolt 33,passing through a clearance hole in bracket 34 of a first light sourcehaving a bulb socket 35, is received by a threaded aperture in post 30to secure socket 35 to bracket 26. The free end of bracket 34 abutsraised formation 36 of post 30 to thereby prevent rotation of socket 35.Frusto-conical lamp shade 38 having an inwardly turned lip at the lowerend thereof is seated on internal ledge 39 of bracket 2t). Screws 41passing through clearance holes in the lip and received by threadedapertures in posts 31, 32 secure shade 38 to bracket 20.Counterbalancing swivel joint `4G (FIGURES 7 and 8) is mounted to thebottom of bracket 2li in a manner to be hereinafter explained.

Counterbalancing swivel joint 46 comprises shell 42 having mountedthereto ball assembly 43, cup washer 44, compression spring 45, closuremember 46 and nipple 47. Shell 42 is a cast relatively thick walledmember having a rounded internal surface 48 at the lower end thereofwhich provides a seat for ball assembly 43. Load bearing arm 49 isentered into the central wired passage 50 of ball assembly 43 as well asthrough a substantially 3 90 slot 51 in the rounded end of shell 42. Thelength of slot 51 is selected to limit the movement of arm 49 about axis52 to substantially 90.

Washer 44 includes a curved sur-face 53 which also provides a seat forball assembly 43 and further includes a pair of slots 54 which receivethe ends of torsion springs S which are Vpart of ball assembly 43.Closure member 46 is seated on ledge 56 of shell 42 and is retainedthereon by the deformed lip 57 of shell 42 at the upper end thereof.Compression spring 45 is nterposed between closure member 46 and cupWasher 44 so as to urge cup washer 44 against ball assembly 43 and inturn urge ball assembly 43 firmly against seat 4S.

Nipple 47 is provided with a shoulder 58 which rests against closuremember 45. 'The lower end 59 of nipple 47 extends from shoulder 58,passes through the central aperture 61 of closure member 46, and isdeformed so as to fixedly secure nipple 47 to member 46. Cutouts 62 inshoulder 53 cooperate with suitably formed raised portions of Imember 46to prevent relative rotation between nipple 47 and member 46. Nipple 47is provided near the upper end thereof with a peripheral groove 62 whichreceives retainer washer 63 for pivotal mounting of swivel unit tobracket Ztl.

Swivel unit 40 is mounted to bracket 24) by first inserting nipple 47through the central aperture 64 of spring washer 65 and thereafterthrough aperture 66 of partition 29. Spring washer 65 is then loaded bymoving swivel unit 4t! toward the lower surface of partition 29 untilgroove 52 is completely above partition surface 67. Retainer 63 ismounted to nipple 47 by inserting the upper end of nipple 47 throughaperture 68 of retainer 63. Thereafter, retainer y453 is movedhorizontally into groove 62 with the portion of nipple 47 defininggroove 62 being disposed within another aperture 69 of retainer 63 whichis too small to receive the upper end of nipple 47. Retainer 63 ismaintained in this position by screw 7@ which passes through clearancehole 71 in retainer 63 and is received by threaded aperture 72 inpartition 219.

Shell 42 is provided with integrally formed internal formations 75-77.There are four formations 75, only two or" which are shown, which engagethe `flattened sides of ball assembly 43 to prevent rotation of samerelative to shell 42 about an axis transverse to bore 5t) and axis 52.Relative rotation between cup washer 44 and shell 42 is preventedthrough the cooperation of washer slot 78 and internal formation 76.Similarly, relative rotation between closure member `46 and shell 42 isprevented through the cooperation of closure member notch 79 andinternal formation 77.

Stop projection 81 of shell 42 cooperates with stop projection S2 ofbracket 20 to limit the relative rotation between swivel unit 4d andbracket 2t? to substantially 360.

By casting shell 42 it may readily be provided with thick walls ofsubstantial strength. This enables a large ball assembly 43 to be housedtherein with the ball assembly 43 including strong torsion springs sothat the load, in this case light source 84, at the end of long momentarm 49 may be relatively heavy.

it is to be noted that bracket 2t) is provided with an outer surfacethat is rounded and gradually tapered in the portion at the left withrespect to FIGURES 4 and 5. This portion of the bracket outer surfaceblends with the outer surface of lamp shade 3S as well as the outersurface of shell 42 so that the three appear to be continuous whenviewed from the side.

Thus, this invention provides an improved counterbalancing swivel jointunit construction whereby extremely heavy loads may be supported. Inaddition, this invention provides an overall simplified lighting fixtureconstruction by providing a single bracket which supports two separatelight sources one of which is mounted to the end of a iong moment arm,and pivotable for sub- 4 stantially about a horizontal axis as Well aspivotable for substantially 366 about a vertical axis.

Although the invention has been set forth with exemplary constructionsand arrangements, it is to be understood that the features, principlesand manner of application thereof may be varied by those skilled in theart, l ithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I Claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a wall plate, an canopy removablymounted to said wall plate, a bracket means mounted to said canopy, aswivel joint means pivotally mounted to said bracket means at a firstside thereof, said joint means having a nipple extending therefrom; saidbracket means comprising a generally hollow member, including ahorizontal partition; said joint means being positioned onone side ofsaid partition with said nipple extending 4through an aperture of saidpartition; said nipple having an annular groove in the outer surfacethereof, said groove being positioned on the other side of saidpartition; a retaining means entered into said groove for providing apivotal connection between said joint means and said bracket; a rstlighting means connected to said swivel joint means for pivotal movementwith respect to said bracket means and a second lighting means mountedto said bracket means at a second side thereof opposite to said firstside.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a wall plate, a canopy removablymounted to said wall plate, a bracket means mounted to said canopy, aswivel joint -means pivotally mounted to said bracket means at a firstside thereof, said joint means having a nipple extending therefrom; saidbracket means comprising a generally' hollow member, including -ahorizontal partition; said joint means being positioned on one side ofsaid partition with said nipple extending through an aperture of saidpartition; said nipple having an annular groove in the outer surfacethereof, said groove being positioned on the other side of saidpartition; a retaining means entered into said groove .for providing apivotal connection between said joint means and said bracket; saidretaining means comprising a Washer having a first opening large enoughfor said nipple, moving longitudinally, to pass through and a secondopening wherein a portion of the nipple having the annular groove isdisposed; said second opening being too small to permit the nipple topass therethrough; said openings being in communication with theirjuncture being large enough to receive the portion of said nipple havingthe annular groove yet too small to permit the nipple, movinglongitudinally, to pass therethrough; a first lighting means connectedto said swivel joint means for pivotal movement with respect `to saidbracket means and a second lighting means mounted to said bracket meansat a second side thereof opposite to said first side.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a -wall plate, a canopy removablymounted to said wall plate, a bracket means mounted to said canopy, aswivel joint means pivotally mounted to said bracket means at a firstside thereof, said joint means having a nipple extending therefrom; saidbracket means comprising a generally hollow member, including ahorizontal partition; said joint means being positioned on one side ofsaid partition with said nipple extending through an aperture of saidpartition; said nipple having an annular groove in the outer surfacethereof, said groove being positioned on the other side of saidpartition; a retaining means entered into said groove for providing' apivotal connection between said joint means `and said bracket; apartially loaded spring washer through which said nipple extendsdisposed between said partition and said joint means; a first lightingmeans connected to said swivel joint means for pivotal movement withrespect to said bracket means and a second lighting means mounted tosaid bracket means at a second side thereof opposite to said first side.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a wall plate, a canopy removablymounted to said ywall plate, a bracket means mounted to said canopy, aswivel joint means pivotally mounted to said bracket means at a iirstside thereof, said joint means having a nipple extending therefrom; saidbracket means comprising -a generally hollow mentber, including ahorizontal partition; said joint neans being positioned on one side oisaid partition with said nipple extending through an aperture of saidpartition; said nipple having an annular groove in the outer surfacethereof, said groove being positioned on the other side of saidpartition; a retaining means entered into said groove -for providing apivotal connection between said joint means and said bracket means; saidjoint means including a ball assembly; a long hollow arm mounted at arst end thereof to said ball assembly for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis deined by said haii assembly'; a first lighting meansmounted to said arm at a second end thereof for pivotal movement aboutsaid bracket means and about said ball assembly; `and a second lightingmeans mounted to said bracket means at a second side thereof opposite tosaid first side.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a Wall plate, a canopy removablymounted yto said Wall plate, a bracket means mounted to said canopy, aswivel joint means pivotally mounted to said bracket means at a firstside thereof, a rst lighting means connected to said swivel joint meansfor pivotal movement with respect to said bracket means and a secondlighting means mounted to said bracket means at a second side thereofopposite to said first side; said bracket being generally hollow andhaving a rounded tapered portion at the outer surface thereof; saidjoint means including a shell having a rounded tapered outer surface;said lighting means including a shade having a rounded tapered outersurface; said bracket rounded tapered portion appearing as an extensionof the portions of the rounded tapered outer surfaces of both said shelland said shade.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS482,339 Crolius Sept. 13, 1892 1,516,306 Reborn Nov. 18, 1924 1,636,358Fairman etal luiy 19, 1927 1,674,130 Russell et al. .lune 19, 19282,000,743 Cohen May 7, 1935 2,052,059 Arras Aug. 25, 1936 2,500,784Anderson Mar. 14, 1950 2,580,350 Friedberg Dec, 25, 1951 2,667,571Versen lan. 26, 1954 2,709,097 Leary May 24, 1955 2,925,294 SchwartzFeb. l16, 1960 2,925,489 Schwartz Feb. 16, 1960

5. A LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING A WALL PLATE, A CANOPY REMOVABLYMOUNTED TO SAID WALL PLATE, A BRACKET MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID CANOPY, ASWIVEL JOINT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID BRACKET MEANS AT A FIRSTSIDE THEREOF, A FIRST LIGHTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SWIVEL JOINTMEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRACKET MEANS AND ASECOND LIGHTING MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID BRACKET MEANS AT A SECOND SIDETHEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRST SIDE; SAID BRACKET BEING GENERALLY HOLLOWAND HAVING A ROUNDED TAPERED PORTION AT THE OUTER SURFACE THEREOF; SAIDJOINT MEANS INCLUDING A SHELL HAVING A ROUNDED TAPERED OUTER SURFACE;SAID LIGHTING MEANS INCLUDING A SHADE HAVING A ROUNDED TAPERED OUTERSURFACE; SAID BRACKET ROUNDED TAPERED PORTION APPEARING AS AN EXTENSIONOF THE PORTIONS OF THE ROUNDED TAPERED OUTER SURFACES OF BOTH SAID SHELLAND SAID SHADE.